RICHMOND, Va. -- It has been two weeks since Lander S. Freeman disappeared while walking to a South Richmond store and now family members say they fear for his safety.
Freeman, a 73-year-old Vietnam veteran, hasn't been seen since June 6, while walking to Kings Market near his Silver Avenue home.
His walking stick was later found on the porch of a friend's home nearby.
His sister-in-law says he has dementia, and the entire family is distraught.
"Our worst fear is that we won’t find him alive, but we pray that he is, because he has to come back home,” said Angela Thompson. “He needs to be here with us.”
She said this is unlike Freeman to disappear like this and he has taken the same route to the store over the last year.
Thompson said she has received phone calls about possible sightings, but they haven't been able to find him when they checked it out.
"We miss him. we miss him very much," she said.
Freeman's family says he may be wearing a winter coat with “Obama” printed on it and fur around the hood, despite how warm it has been outside.
Police said he was also last seen wearing green pants and a black fedora-type hat.
Freeman is described as a black male, six feet one and weighing about 200 pounds. He has a medium complexion and an injury to one eye.
Anyone who sees Freeman or has information on his whereabouts should call 911 or Crime Stoppers at 804-780-1000.
